Front driven motorboat



y 1945- R. J. SHARP 7 2,379,834

FRONT DRIVEN MOTOR BOAT Filed Feb. 28, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 [Jill all t: I I

' XII IN V EN TOR.

y 1945- R. J. SHARP FRONT DRIVEN MOTOR BOAT Filed Feb. 28; 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Ezwwzur 13.571022? INVENTOR.

Patented July 3, 1945 UNITED TATE PA ENT- 1 t f l V ff aavesa ifl f flFnoN'r pmV NMo'roRBoAr "i Renwick JQSharp, Guatemalagquatemala x ApplicationFebruary 2s, 1944, s mi N10. 52434;!

1 eases. o1 .j 1;1s 11.c)

invention relates to errant driven motor,

at. n V Among the objects of the invention are: to provide-a -front driven motor boat construction wherein thepropeller is so positioned asto overcome tendency to entrain air from the surface or thewater, but caused to act upon water only, thus increasing its efficiency; to provide an improved rudder located in the bowportion of the boat and capable of--more 'quicklyiohanging the course of the boat; to provide; inthis connection, an improved type of steered by-the nosef rudder; to provide ari improvedhousing means for the; propeller toguard its operation from being impeded by sea-weed or debris; to provide, in

conjunction with the last mentioned feature, for

utilizing the rudderas a means for sweeping off debris fromascreenine used to protect the propeller; to provide fora better balancing of the boat in regard to its fore-to aftposition so that the Objectionable heretofore encountered tendency of the front portion :of the boat to tilt upwardly during speedytravel will be overcome together withthe resultingincreased wind resistance and the dangerous tendency of the stern becoming lowered to such an extent as to become filled with water; to provide an improved means forldetachablyimountingia motor and propeller unit so that it mayr be conveniently removed for safekeeping whenthe boatis not in use andalso may be readily replaced in its operative relation to the hull; and to provide a motor driven boatipropelling unit and mounting means therefor all ofwhich. may conveniently and at but asmall cost be used to convert an oar-driven or othercertain undesirable features of boat motors nowv on the market, among which are the .use of motors which are tooheavy to be handled in a free and easy manner; and which entail the danger of the notuncommon occurrence of the motor ial ling i nto the water duejto jumping 01f,

or to the breaking off oia piece of the sternal part of the boat to which it is attached;

" made of galvanized sheet metal.

- Referring in detail to thebow piece 9a.,

Fig 11s a longitudinalvertioalmidsection er motor boat constructed according fto the princi plesoftheinvention; P

Fig.2 is a bottom planview of the boat shown -inFig.1;

Fig.3 is a sectional detailon anenl'argedscale, n the-plane of section beingindicated by the line 3 -:-3 'of=Fig.=1;i i .i Fig. 4 is a fragmentahhorizontal section, on an enlarged scale," looking up from line-l-4-1 of Fig.1 5 is an'enlarged perspective of theimounting drum; i i in i n n,

6 is an enlarged perspective ofthe partof the device which is attachable to thebottom of the boat. n

and. bowed front side wall portionsg9 which converge in a conventional manner till they meet at Important partsnof the npropellinganeansp to which the present invention pertains, are the motor 10, the upstanding propeller containing drum ll upon which-"said motor issupportedthe propeller l2 located below said drum ithe jmotor i propeller shaft casing is which extends downwardly iromsaid motor and atits lower end carries said propeller, and the bottom housing ;l4

Describing the aforemention d parts [mo in detail, as well as other parts which cooperate With them, in the midwidth portion oftthe front partof the boats bottom 6 is a spaciouscircular opening 15 around the upper side of whichthen aforesaid drum H is fittedina leakproof manner by any suitable means, thedrawings sho wingtsaid drum as a cylindrical tubefurnished with anoutwardly directed flange l6 which is secured in a leak proof manner to theiboatstbottom Belay means of bolts l1 and their nuts 18, i n

A ring 20 is fitted aroundand sec suitable means to the motor propeller shaft casmg I 3 saidring carrying in a fixed relation to it,

two diametrically opposite radial arms 21 each of a which isfurnished at its outer end with a curved Other objects, advantages and features ,of in-,' vention ,will hereinafter appear;

head 22 that abuts against the inner surface of the drum H These twoiheads are positionedin a foreand aft relation to each other so as better to brace the motor propeller shaft casingf ll against the thruster the propeller,

i The-bottom-housing 14; shown in perspective in 6, hasin its top a circular opening 23, and ca r s enue a d sm lin h r ei si ewa theurawingsrthe mill 5 up has a substantially flat bottomldrear side wall portions 1 united by a flattenednsternal "WalLB,

fed an n metrically disposed sternally directed tunnels 21 with which said housing I4 is provided. Said housing is shown in Fig. 1 as having a wall or floor 14:0. In front of the grille 26 is located the rudder 30, the rudder post 3| being turned inopposite directions by the handwheel 32 and steering post33 by means of a connection 34, whichneed not be described in detail because, separately considered it forms .no part'of the invention. Said rudder post'is located adjacent .to the nose portion a of the rudder so as to steer by the nose? thereof. The rudder post 3| is suitably equipped .with flanges 35 and 36 at oppositesides of the boat bottom, between which is a compressed leak proofpacking gland 31. The rudder post has a cross bar 38 fixedtoits upper end, a run of thesteering connection'being secured to eachend of said bar in order toafford the proper operating leverage. When the rudder is operated the rear edge thereof (which isclosely juxtaposed to the front side of the grille 2G) clears away any seaweed or debris which may have collected on thegrille and tended to obstruct the flow of the water therethrough. The grille is concaved in conformity to the arcuate sweep of the rearedge of the rudder. The lower end of the rudder post has provided for it a bearing 39 carried by a band iron brace 40..

V Describing more in'detail the housing 14 withas viewed in horizontal section (see Fig. 4) comprises twin parallel sidewalls l4a, the front ends of which are, joined to each other by thesternally bowed seriesof horizontal grille bars 26, already 4 mentioned.

The supporting means for said housing: includesin addition to the aforesaid flange 24, the

already mentioned band iron 40 the upwardly directedfront endportion 4| of-whichis given -a twist which brings it into approximately a vertical plane so as to overlie and be riveted -to the lower part of the knife-edge portion 9a of the bow, the sternal end 42 of said band iron being horizontally directed and secured to the boats bottom in any suitable manner, as by bolts 43; Said hand 40 is upwardly inclined throughout its sternal half and contacts along, the midwidth portion of the under sideof the housing floor 14$ and the sternally tapered wall He underlying the compartment Me, which joins the arcuatehousing Wall 14a and is secured thereto in anysuitable manner. I

At each side of said compartment 140 there is provided, sternally of the housing [4, one of the already mentioned water delivery tunnels 21, said tunnels directing away from the bottom surface of the boat the water ejected from the 9 housing by the propeller, thereby lessening the friction of these streams upon the boatsbottom and thus materially increasing the speed of the craft. The front ends-of these tunnels converge till they meet and communicate with the open sternal end of the housing I4, said tunnels, like the housing, being made of sheet metal. The

front ends of these tunnels are made substantially rectangular in cross section where they join the housing, but are gradually altered in form toward their sternal ends, where they are circular.

The above mentioned compartment I40 is preferably made by securing a single pieceof sheet metal having a flat upper run Md and a downwardly bowed lower run I 4e between the tunnels 21, said sheet having an acute sternal bend line I41 which spans'the space between the ,two funnels and contours the compartment l4c in such a manner as not to produce "drag" behind the tunnels. The curved lower wall Me of this compartment contributes to the desired streamline effect, the already mentioned brace bar 40 underlying its midwidth portion in a flatwise manner, and also underlying the floor l4zc of the housing l4.

lies. The tunnels 21 are shown obliquely cutac'ros s at their sternal ends in such a wayasto cause the issuing streams to diverge more rapidly, thereby lessening the fdraggingf effect of-the propeller driven streams upon the bottom, of; the t- I,

,Describing more in detail the means for mounting the motor I0 (which is preferably'an internal combustion engine), said motor .hassecured to it a centrally apertured basal plate 45.

Said plate is of asomewhatygreater diameter i in which the propeller ['2 is located, said housing,

than they drum body I! and is shown detachably secured to'the latter by means ofstOveg-bolts 46 which extend through the fiangedupper endof thedrum and are, provided with winged nuts :41.

The motor propeller shaft casing l3, extends;

from the motor downfthrough the central opening of thec'over and'thence axially of, the drum II and into the housing, where-it carries at its lower end a gear casing 48 which con,- tains a conventional gearing" that forms. a. part of the means for operatively. connecting the motor and propellen.

By the arrangement-which has-just;;been'= described'a convenient means is afforded for bodily removing from the craft the-motor; propeller and intervening structure. Preparatory to doing this it is only necessary toremove thmwinged nuts 41 from the:bolts 46, whereupon the cover plate 45 may be lifted, together Withth motor,

off from the drum H, and togetheli-wilihj' th above mentioned parts *operatively' connected therewith, be conveyed to any place wherefit is. desired to store them forsafetyor other reasohs.

The drum II extends above the boat's bottom 1 to a sufficient'height to prevent water entering the boat through its bottom openingeven when the motorcarrying plate 45 hasbeen detac'hed. However, if it is desired further to safeguard against entrance, of water into the boat when:

the motor is removed and oars are relied upon to propel the boat, any'suitable imperforate plate may be substituted asa closure element for the What is claimedfis;

' drum, to take the place-of said plate45L 1. In a motor boat, a hull havingfanbpening through its bottom adjacent toitsbowfa housing having an opening registering with saidhull opening, said housing being attached-"to the boats bottom in' an underlying; relation tosaid hull opening, there being a spacious water- -intake opening in the frontportion of said housing and correspondingly spacious rearwardly -di- Said bar 40 is riveted or otherwise secured to the parts whichit underrected water outlet means leading divergingly therefrom, an elongated upstanding drum hav ing its lower end in a surrounding, water tight relation to said hull opening; a motor including I c a basal plate detachably carried by and water-;

sealing the upper part of said drum, a propeller located below said registering openings, and means operatively connecting said motor and propeller to drive the latter in a direction to create a sternal movement of the Water through said housing and divergingoutlet means.

2. In a motor boat, a hull, a housing secured to the bottom thereof, said housing having a fore portion provided with a spacious water intake opening and aft portion furnished with means to discharge the water admitted through said opening, said intake openingbeing guarded b a grille which as viewed in front is concave from side to side of the boat, and a rudder mounted upon the'hull forwardly of said grille to swing about a vertical axis, said rudder having a stern sternally directed water outlet comprisingtwin symmetrical disposed tunnels, the front ends of said tunnels converging till they meet andrcomaj municate with saidhousing, said tunnels being.

obliquely cut across at their external ends.

9. The subject matter of claim 3 and,said fore opening being. guarded by a grille which as viewed in front is concave from side to side of the boat,

and a ruddermounted upon the hull ofthe boat forwardly of said grille to swing about a vertical axis, said rudder having a sternally directed trail-; I

ing edge which moves through an arc correspond- I ing to the concavity of said grille and adjacent to the latter to remove debris therefrom.

10. In a motorboat; a hull having an havingan opening registering with said hull opening, said housing being attached to theboats ally directed trailing edge which moves through:

an arc corresponding to the concavity. of said grille and adjacent to the latter to remove debris therefrom.

having a fore opening and diverging aft openings to admit and discharge the: stream of water created by the operation of said propeller.

4. In a motorboat, a hull having an opening through its bottom, means surrounding said opening to prevent water entering the boat therethrough and at the same time afiording a pasbottom in an underlying relation to said hull opening, there being a; spacious water intake I opening in the front portion of said housing and correspondingly spacious rearwardly directed water outlet means leading therefrom, an elongated upstanding drum having its lower end in a surrounding, water tight relation to said hull opening, a motor including a basalplate detachably carried by and water sealing the upper part of said drum, a propeller located below said register-j ingopenings, and means operatively connecting said motor and propeller to. drive the latter in a direction to create a sternal movement of the water through said housing, said motor propeller u and driving means for said propeller comprising a portable unit and being in a unitary manner bodily removable without pro-adjustment from l and re-attachable to said drum.

11. In a motor boat, a hull having an opening 1 through its bottom adjacent to itsbow, a houssage through which a propeller and driving means therefor may be inserted, and a housing comprising means attachable to the bottom of the boat ina surrounding relationIto said opening to support said housing in a position to contain: a propeller introduced thereinto as aforesaid, said housing having a fore opening and diverging aft openings to admit and discharge the stream of water created by operation of the motor.

5. The subject matter of claim 4 and, said at I taching means comprising a flange carried by,

ing having an opening registering with said hull opening, said housing being attached to the boats bottom in an underlying relation to said hull c opening, there being a spacious water intake opening in the front portion of said housing and correspondingly spacious rearwardly directed water outlet means leading divergingly therefrom, a band of iron underlyingsaid housingalong its I midwidth, the front end of said band ironbeing,

twisted to approximately a vertical plane and sesaid housing, and common fastening means connecting the first saidmeans and said attaching means. i I u 6. In a motor boat, a propeller supported by the boat in a subjacent relation toits bottom, a

housing for said propeller secured to the boats bottom, said housing having a sternally directed water outlet and a forwardly directed water in- I let, a sternally concaved grille guarding said water inlet, and a swingable rudder mounted in a forwardly adjacent relation to said grille, said I .rudder having a trailing edge which sweeps across the front side of said therefrom. c

7. The subject matter of claim 6 and, said grille to remove rubbish sternally directed water outlet comprising twin cured to one side of the lowerpart of the bow I of the hull and the sternal end of said band being secured in a flatwise manner to, the bottom. of

the hull rearwardly of said housing, a propeller in said housing, drivingmeans in the hull opera- I tively connected withsaid propeller, said intake opening being guardedby a grille which as viewed in front is concave from side to side of the boat,

a rudderincluding a post mounted upon the hull I forwardly of said grille to swingabout avertical axis, and a bearing carried by the front end porsymmetrical disposed tunnels, the front ends of I said tunnels converging till they meet and communicat'e with said housing.

8. The subject matter ofclaim 6 and, said tion of said band iron adjacent said twist in which the lower end of said rudder post is mounted, said rudder having a sternally directed trailing edge which moves through an arc corresponding to the concavity of said grille and adjacent the latter and a nose portion movable through an arc rearwardlyof the trailing edge of the front end of said band and adjacent said twist.

.RENWICK J. SHARP.

op n n I through its bottom adjacent to its bow, a housing 

